Keke Palmer Gets Real About Post-Baby Body In New Interview

Keke Palmer welcomed her her first baby boy, Leodis “Leo” Andrellton, with her boyfriend Darius Jackson back in February.

And after putting her body through so much, Keke is now learning to listen to it.

During a conversation with PEOPLE, the 29-year-old actress shared some words of wisdom for mothers trying to cope with the pressure of “bouncing back” to their pre-pregnancy weight.

There’s always this thing of, ‘How’d they do it?’ And I think for me, the main thing I would say to any new mom is do what you can when you can, whatever it is that makes you feel good. If it’s important to you, then hell yeah put in the work miss girl. Get you whatever diet you want to do or whatever workout regimen that works for you. And if that’s not what you’re worried about, then don’t worry about it.

You know, I think this is such good advice. Do whatever it is that makes you happy. If having that pre-pregnancy body back is important to you, then go get it! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

But if you don’t care? That’s cool. Take your time. There’s no rush. Don’t listen to anyone else.

Speaking from personal experience, Keke says the first couple weeks after giving birth, she didn’t want to do anything at all.

I didn’t want to do nothing. I didn’t want to talk to nobody. Then I was like, ‘I need to talk to somebody. I need to do something.’ Then I was like, ‘Now I want to get active.’ It changes, so go at your own pace.

That’s what Keke means by listening to your body. It will tell you when you’re ready to get back out there. Don’t try to force it.

And don’t get it twisted. Even though Keke is working out more and getting back out there, she still has those drive-thru days.

Other times I’m like, ‘Yo, pull up in the drive-through. I want the number five, large.’ You know what I mean? I do what I feel when I need to, because sometimes taking it easy, that is what you need.